KEVIN Watson would love to one day become the manager of Colchester United, but it won't be just yet.

Carl Marston

KEVIN Watson would love to one day become the manager of Colchester United, but it won't be just yet.

Former U's midfielder Watson, who was forced to retire as a player through injury last season, is currently making a name for himself as a first team coach at Luton Town.

The 35-year-old is enjoying life as part of Mick Harford's coaching team at Kenilworth Road, and he harbours long-term ambitions of becoming a manager.

But he has not applied for the vacant post at the Community Stadium, following Paul Lambert's resignation to take up his new post at Norwich City last week.

"I would like to do the job one day," admitted Watson to the EADT last night.

"But I haven't sent in my CV for the Colchester job. I am learning as a coach at Luton, and I wouldn't go behind the back of Mick Harford and apply for another job without telling him.

"I'd like the opportunity in time to manage, and I'm on the training ground working on ideas all the time.

"I'm 36 in January, so I'm not so very, very young anymore. But there are so many managers out there, and it always seems to be the same old faces turning up each time. It's a real managers' merry-go-round.

"But there should be opportunities for younger guys to join in as well, and who's to know whether the Colchester chairman, Robbie Cowling, will go down that route?" added Watson.

Former Tottenham trainee Watson, who made five appearances in the Premier League with Spurs before pursing a successful playing career at the likes of Swindon, Rotherham, Reading and Colchester, eventually conceded defeat to long-term calf and Achilles injuries last term.

He is now hoping to help plot the return of Luton to the Football League, following relegation last season on the back of a minus 30 points tally (due to administration and other financial irregularities).

"We have a good chance of winning promotion from the Blue Square Premier, because we have managed to keep most of our players. But expectations are so high and we have been booed off the pitch in two of our games, even though they ended in draws!" added Watson.

The U's are planning to appoint a new manager, to succeed Lambert, during the course of next week. Caretaker manager Joe Dunne will stay in charge for this Saturday's big home game against Leeds, and almost certainly the trip to Gillingham for a Johnstone's Paint Trophy fixture next Tuesday evening.

But a new permanent manager should be in place before the following Saturday's trip to Southampton.

Many names have been linked with the U's job over the last week.

Torquay boss Paul Buckle seems unlikely to now be a contender, due to the timing of the appointment - he is still under contract with the Gulls and the U's are committed to an interviewing process.

Instead, ex-Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd remains a favourite amongst the high-profile candidates currently out of work, while former player and current Charlton coach Mark Kinsella could be amongst the younger contenders.